Many communities have neighborhoods with streets that do not have
formal sidewalks. Landscape planting is often close to the roadway edge
and it can be difficult to visibly locate some fire hydrants under the best
of conditions. Add such elements as improperly parked vehicles, darkness, fog or heavy smoke conditions
and it can be almost impossible to rapidly locate some hydrants. Business
districts are often crowded with vehicles parked too close to hydrants for easy
visual locating.

Most agencies show all hydrants on district maps and local companies are familiar
with their assigned areas, however oftentimes the closest engine companies
will respond directly to the scene to effect rapid rescue and attack a fire
using water carried on the engines. A later arriving engine from a more distant
station will establish continuous water supply. Especially on narrow streets,
crews may not want to block the roadway with hose lines until all the units
needed at the actual fire scene have arrived.

Thus it is imperative that the engine company assigned the task of water supply
is able to quickly locate the appropriate fire hydrant, make a connection and
deliver water to engines at the fire scene. To ensure uniform identification of
our fire hydrants, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District uses blue reflective pavement markers to indicate the
presence of the fire hydrant to approaching companies.